The UK government declared an “imminent threat” from the new Coronavirus because someone threatened to leave a quarantine centre, the Mirror understands.
A source said the reason emergency regulations were made this morning is because an unknown person threatened to “abscond” from the Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside.
The new laws will give police or security the power to physically stop someone leaving the quarantine centre. It is understood the person in question is still there.
A source said this very specific issue – and not the coronavirus itself – is what the government deemed an “imminent threat” this morning. It is not known why the person threatened to leave or what the wider circumstances were.
Health Minister Matt Hancock revealed the emergency powers this morning in an announcement that gives the government extra powers to fight the spread of the virus.
(Image: Dan Rowlands / SWNS.com)
A statement from the Department of Health said: “In accordance with Regulation 3, the Secretary of State declares that the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health.
“The measures outlined in these regulations are considered as an effective means of delaying or preventing further transmission of the virus.”
A source told the Mirror: “Someone was threatening to abscond over the weekend.
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“These regulations are to ensure we have the powers to enforce isolation if necessary.
“Overwhelmingly everyone who has been in quarantine has been really good about it. A lot of them refused to get on the plane unless they would be quarantined afterwards.”
83 British nationals who were flown home from virus epicentre Wuhan arrived at Arrowe Park for two weeks of quarantine on January 31, and are due to leave this Friday.
(Image: Getty Images)
They were expected to be joined by other 11 Brits last week when more evacuation flights arrived.
It is believed those who arrived on January 31 signed a contract agreeing to stay in isolation for 14 days.
But after one person said they wanted to leave, officials feared this contract would not give them enough legal powers to stop the person exiting the building.
The new law now identifies Arrowe Park Hospital and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes as “isolation” facilities.
It is thought the law came into effect when the Health Secretary signed it this morning, and will lapse if not approved by Parliament within 28 days.
Yet the exact text of the law has not been made available by the Department of Health.
This breaking news story is being updated.
